Local News

Farm workshop on Thursday

Will cover 'farming evolution'

Area growers will have a chance to learn about the advantages of no-till farming, soil health and cover crops during a farm workshop in Holyoke Thursday.

"The Farming Evolution: Where Do You Fit?" will be held in the big room at the Phillips County Event Center on the Fairgrounds in Holyoke. Registration will open at 7:30 a.m. The program will run from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

There is no registration fee.

"Recent scientific research on how the soil works has led to new insights about this complex system," says a release from the Natural Resources Conservation Service. "These research findings, coupled with results from farmers 'breaking the rules', are increasing our understanding about how soils work."

Michal Casper and Joel Moffett with the Colorado NRCS Soil Health team will share some of these discoveries.

Dallas Johannsen and Kathy Buttle will bring the Nebraska Rainfall Simulator. Trays of soils from fields with different tillage histories are "rained on" and the runoff is captured in clear glass jars. The volume and dirt levels in the captured water are quite telling of how tillage affects soil function.

Attendees will also learn about weed control strategies to help address herbicide resistant weeds.

Participants will learn how cover crops performed in one Phillips County field this past summer, and how new knowledge can improve the bottom line for producers.

A producer panel will feature three innovative farmers from around the area. Scott Ravenkamp, Dietrich Kastens and Steve Tucker will share how they have adapted their farming operations over the years. There will be plenty of time for discussion and questions.